This technique is counter-intuitive – but it works (Image: Getty)
Brits may currently be suffering with the comeback of the dreaded hayfever season, as the Met Office confirms that the recent Spring weather has triggered a spike in pollen levels.
Tree pollen season is now in full swing and although the more acute sufferers may be avoiding the outdoors altogether – even your home can fail to provide respite in peak pollen season.
To help those suffering from high pollen counts, Steve Bromberg, Managing Director of Express Bi-Folding Doors, shares how “burping” your home could help with quick ventilation to relieve hay fever symptoms when pollen counts peak.
Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy also offers medical insight into why ventilation matters during hayfever season.
Steve Bromberg explains what the burping method is: “The burping method is all about giving your home a short, sharp burst of ventilation to push out stale, pollen-filled air.
“You fully open windows and doors for around 10-15 minutes to create a cross-breeze, effectively ‘burping out’ the dirty air and replacing it with fresher air from outside.”
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It is now peak season for tree pollen (Image: Getty)
Unlike leaving windows open all day, which can let pollen continuously enter, this controlled blast of airflow helps remove built-up indoor allergens quickly.
Dr Deborah Lee explains why this technique can be so effective, “Many people assume staying indoors protects them from pollen, but indoor air can actually contain significantly more pollutants. Pollen builds up inside the home on clothing, skin, hair and pets, and becomes trapped without proper ventilation.”
Dr Lee also adds, “Briefly ventilating your home can reduce the concentration of airborne allergens such as pollen, dust mites and pet dander. This means you may be exposed to fewer irritants overall, which can help ease symptoms.”
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However, when you ‘burp’ your home is just as important as how. Dr Lee adds: “Pollen levels are usually highest in the early morning and early evening, so these are the worst times to open windows. The best time to burp your home is after rainfall. Rain acts as a natural cleanser, removing pollen from the atmosphere. This makes it the ideal time to ventilate your home safely.”
Alongside the burping method, Dr Lee recommends keeping windows and doors shut on dry, windy days when pollen spreads more easily.
Showering and changing clothes after being outdoors to remove pollen will make a difference to yourself and your home and remove pollen particles two-fold.
You should also avoid drying washing outside, when pollen can cling to fabrics. If you can, you should invest in an HEPA air filters which can remove up to 99.7% of airborne particles.
In general, keeping an eye on the pollen count can help you plan and prepare for days when the pollen count could cause you problems.
